Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has restated his administration’s commitment to remove all illegal structures defacing the environment in the state just as he promised to build befitting hostels for the College of Education, Warri.

He said this at the weekend during the 19th Convocation Ceremony of the College of Education, Warri.

Governor Uduaghan commended the State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, for the prompt removal of caravans and other illegal structures in Edjeba where the college is located.

“Recently, when I passed through Edjeba, I was not pleased with what I saw and I told the commissioner to rid the area of the caravans and other illegal structures defacing the environment in the area and as I was coming into the college today, I am very happy with what I saw,” the governor said.

He urged owners of caravans and other illegal structures in the state to remove them immediately in their own interest as “the state government will not spare anybody defacing the environment. We will prosecute you if you fail to remove these illegal structures and if we have to remove them on our own, you will be fined by the state government, so do not allow government to remove them for you.”

Uduaghan expressed displeasure that students of the college are living in shanty-like hostels and expressed government’s determination to build befitting hostels for them before the end of his tenure. He however enjoined the private sector to cooperate with government to achieve this as, according to him “government alone cannot do it.”

Hear the governor: “I feel sad that students of this college are living in shanties, human beings should not live in such places because they are breeding ground for armed robbery and prostitution and that is not what we want for our students. Government will build hostels for students and private individuals should also help. My administration will build some hostels for the College of Education, Warri before we leave office and move the students out of these shanty-like hostels.”

While stressing the need for quality teacher education in the country, Governor Uduaghan said that “teacher education is the key to the success of any educational system and the state government will continue to encourage quality teacher education as part of our human capital development. Whatever we are spending on education in the state is not wasted.”

The governor also assured workers in the state who were experiencing difficulties in getting their salaries that they would soon smile as the challenges were being tackled and would soon be resolved.

In his speech, Mr. Sylvester Ebisine, the Acting Provost of the College, said that the 19th Convocation Ceremony was for the over 7,700 graduands from the college between 2005-2012. He commended the state government for the massive support to the developmental growth of the college.

•Photo shows Governor Uduaghan (middle), Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha (left), and Acting Provost, Mr. Sylvester Ebisine (right) at the 19th Convocation ceremony of College of Education, Warri . . . at the weekend. Photo: Henry Unini.